The fire broke out at the plant due to a gas leak from a
pipeline that leads to the distillation unit, Jose Bodas,
secretary general of the oil workers union, said.

The fire was controlled but it was not immediately known how
long the unit would be kept halted, said Mr. Bodas, noting
that an investigation needed to be conducted to evaluate
damage as well as the cause of the leak. No workers were
injured in the accident, he added.

A spokesman at Petroleos de Venezuela, the majority owner of
Petrocedeno with a 60% stake, declined comment.

Total controls around 30% of the plant, while Statoil has a
stake of around 9.7%.

Petrocedeno is part of a network of upgraders Venezuela needs
to convert its tar like heavy crude into lighter oil. The
plants are key for the South American country's goal to
sharply raise crude output from its massive Orinoco heavy oil
belt over the next several years.

Dow Jones Newswires

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